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Fellaini wants strong Everton finish

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has called on his team-mates to finish the season strongly.

David Moyes' side lie sixth in the Premier League table and appear to have lost their chances of finishing fourth after a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday.

They are now six points behind Chelsea - who are fourth and also have a game in hand - and with only the fifth-placed side qualifying for the Europa League this season due to the cup heroics of Swansea City and Wigan Athletic, continental football looks beyond Everton now.

Fellaini feels a packed fixture list was to blame for the Sunderland loss and urged the squad to end the season on a high.

"We have four more games and we must keep going and try to win," Fellaini told TheLiverpool Echo.

"It's difficult now [to finish fourth] but if we try, we will see at the end of the season.

"Everybody was perhaps a little tired [on Saturday]. It was disappointing for the team and the staff. There weren't a lot of chances.

"Sunderland were playing at home, for a new manager in his first game. They had a lot of energy, it was a very difficult game for us.

"We have four more big games - two at home and two away. We will try to win those two at home and we will see where we are after Liverpool and Chelsea."

The Belgian midfielder has enjoyed a terrific Premier League season, scoring 11 goals in 27 appearances.

Everton have won just one of their last four fixtures but will hope to return to winning ways when they host Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday.